Man of mystery brings musical sentiments to Sellersville

Neo-vaudeville singer and guitarist Leon Redbone has often been known as a man of mystery. And after a recent telephone interview, I would say it’s a well deserved moniker. Getting ready to appear at the Sellersville Theater on April 7, Redbone says one of the reasons he seems so difficult to interview and discuss his past is because “I don’t sing about my past. I sing about my sentiments.”

Also, he suggests “reporters often conduct very boring interviews and ask the wrong questions — questions that have nothing to do with what I do. So in my case, going through the first 100 questions would just be futile. So I suggest you just ask about my material.” However, part of that material comes from who the man is and his early years.

The fact is that Redbone began performing in the early 1970s in Toronto nightclubs and folk music festivals, appearing in what has become his trademark Panama hat, dark sunglasses and bow tie.

His early career first gained momentum when Bob Dylan sought him out at the Mariposa Folk Festival. Dylan mentioned that if he were ever to start a label, Redbone would be the first artist he wanted to record.

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At the core of Redbone’s initial career was the desire to simply honor songs from the past, which he has done for many years, much to the delight of others who thoroughly enjoy that type of music.

“I extract what I consider the best material from different sources,” Redbone explains. “But often the material I perform comes from a very strange location in history, which are minstrel shows.”

Most listeners were first introduced to this mystery man on “Saturday Night Live,” and later on numerous network talk shows, including “The Tonight Show.”

Today, having released more than a dozen albums and earning a sizeable cult following, his concerts blend comedy with interpretations of early 20th century music, including jazz and blues standards, as well as Tin Pan Alley classics.

“I’ve always been drawn to music.” Redbone says. “For some reason I’ve always been drawn to operatic records, although I found it impossible for me to go in that direction because operatic performances really don’t interest me. I just like the arias.”

And although he hasn’t produced a new CD in years, he thinks maybe it’s time to attempt a new one.

“Maybe I’ve just been too lazy or maybe I just haven’t had the time.”

Finding the time maybe be more at the core of his not producing more albums because he takes little time off, emphasizing that “a performer must maintain momentum. I can’t perform for three days and then take off a month. That just wouldn’t work.”

In keeping with his unwillingness to answer a reporter’s unnecessary questions, Redbone answers one about where he lives today by volunteering that “the road is my home. My dwelling is wherever I am today. And today I’m in Pennsylvania, so let’s settle for that.”

With no desire to retire right now, Redbone says he also has no desire to write a book about himself or his life.

“I think that’s probably the last thing I would think of doing. Of course, I could be a fictitious version and that would be in keeping with my desire to remain a man of mystery. I like it that way.”

Leon Redbone will take the stage at Sellersville Theater 1894, Main St. & Temple Ave., Sellersville, PA 18960,